Annual report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.
Caption:
Sioux Teepee.
Educational Notes:
The Sioux tribe was known for their culture of hunting. As a tribe on the Great Plains, war was common. The tribes would often go to war over territory and food, both with other tribes and U.S. settlers. The Sioux was a nomadic tribe because they traveled across the land hunting the buffalo. Buffalo provided the tribe with most of its needs: food, clothing, and materials for their teepees. The tent pictured is a common example of a Sioux teepee from the late 1800s. The teepee was made out of wooden poles that were covered in animal skins. The pyramid shape of the structure allowed a hole at the top for smoke to leave the teepee. A fire would be built in the center of the teepee for cooking and heating, and buffalo hides would be used for bedding, seating, and coverings. The shelter was easy to put up and take down, which was perfect for the life of the nomadic Sioux. The entire tribe could have all of their teepees packed up and be ready to continue traveling within an hour!
